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Related Concept Videos

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...
Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
The olfactory...
Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...

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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Olfactory Neurons Obtained through Nasal Biopsy Combined with Laser-Capture Microdissection: A Potential Approach to Study Treatment Response in Mental Disorders
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Surgical therapy and olfactory function.

P Bonfils1, D Malinvaud, Y Soudry

  • 1ENT Department, European Hospital Georges Pompidou, Faculty of Medicine Paris-Descartes, University Paris V, Paris, France. pierre.bonfils@egp.aphp.fr

B-ENT
|January 21, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Surgery can treat smell dysfunction, but also cause it. Studies show surgery often improves olfaction post-operation, though objective measures are limited.

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Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Neurosurgery
  • Medical and Health Sciences

Background:

  • Olfactory dysfunction affects ~65% of chronic sinusitis patients.
  • Surgery is both a treatment and potential complication for smell disorders.
  • Existing research often relies on subjective patient reports of smell function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the complex relationship between surgical interventions and olfactory function.
  • To highlight the impact of surgery on smell disorders.
  • To assess the outcomes of surgical procedures on olfaction.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on surgery and olfaction.
  • Analysis of prospective studies assessing smell function.
  • Comparison of pre-operative and post-operative olfactory assessments.

Main Results:

  • Surgery can improve olfactory function in many cases.
  • Reported improvements in sense of smell post-surgery range from 13% to 91%.
  • A median improvement of 31% in olfactory function was observed post-surgery.

Conclusions:

  • Surgery plays a dual role in olfactory dysfunction, offering treatment and posing risks.
  • Objective assessment of olfactory function post-surgery is crucial.
  • Further prospective studies are needed to fully understand surgical impacts on smell.